The other film news stories of the week in brief...
Ridley, Malick films for Cannes
A few scant details are emerging of the programme for the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. It has been confirmed that Ridley Scott's much-delayed Robin Hoodwill open the event. Given that the film, which stars Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, opens worldwide two days later, this must be viewed as the most modest of coups.
It is also rumoured that Terrence Malick's promising The Tree of Life, starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, is to play in competition. If so, we might actually get a rare glimpse of the old recluse – director of Badlandsand Days of Heaven– walking about in the daylight.
Cannes runs from May 12th to May 23rd.
Surprise choice for BBC critic
So the gossip is over and, to almost everyone's surprise, Claudia Winkleman has beaten rampaging favourite Mark Kermode to the job of presenter on BBC TV's Film 2010. Earlier on in the year, when pressed on the subject, Kermode merely declared that he had not been offered the job. Then, this day last week, he stated that he would be unsuitable for a position that required a more populist touch. The choice of words was interesting. Did he rule himself out or was he snubbed? We may never know.
A monster of a fair lady
Two very different remakes have just elbowed their way into view. Emma Thompson has confirmed that she is to write the script for a new version of My Fair Ladyand that Carey Mulligan has been pencilled in for the role of Eliza Doolittle. One's initial reaction is "loverly", but that might be triggered by the superficial physical similarity between Mulligan and Audrey Hepburn, star of the 1964 version. Thompson mentioned the notion of Hugh Grant as Professor Higgins, but surely that other Hugh – Mr Laurie – would, having shown a capacity for grumpiness in House, be a far more suitable pick.
The other, more surprising disinterment is that of much-loved, fire-breathing eco-monster Godzilla. Roland Emmerich’s 1998 version is generally regarded as a roaring turkey. So, it is hardly surprising that the folk from Legendary Pictures are gesturing towards the great Japanese 1954 original.
"Our plans are to produce the Godzillathat we, as fans, would want to see," Thomas Tull of Legendary gabbed. "We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has."
Animation nation
If you are taking the brood to Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang– hit sequel to the original smash – be aware that the smashing title sequence is by Paul and Noel Donnellon's unstoppable VooDooDog. The Irish brothers also worked on the opening sequence for the first film and on that for
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. Visit the firm's site at voodoodog.com and you can enjoy highlights of their rather brilliant work.
If we keep on going at this rate – what with Brown Bag Films and The Secret of Kells– Irish animators will be taking over the entire sector.